<!-- Introduction --><div class="feature-text"><h2> Your new role</h2><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">We’re looking for a passionate Employment Lawyer to join our in-house legal team. This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in providing expert legal advice across a wide range of employment matters, partnering with our People and ER teams to help us stay ahead of the curve.</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">This is a hybrid role based at our Doncaster Group Support Centre, with 2-3 days a week onsite.</p></div><!-- Responsibilities --><div><h3>What you'll be doing</h3><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">In this role, you’ll:</p><ul style="margin:10px 0px 15px 20px;padding:0px 0px 0px 20px;"><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">Reporting to the Group Senior Legal Counsel (Employment &amp; Commercial), deputising for them when necessary&nbsp;</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">Responsible and accountable for the delivery of timely, specialist legal advice on a range of contentious and non-contentious &nbsp;employment matters including contracts, disciplinary and grievance, absence, family leave, redundancy and restructuring, discrimination, &nbsp;whistleblowing&nbsp;</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">Work closely with the ER function on day to day matters advising on managing and resolving cases, identifying and managing risk, with &nbsp;a focus on strategy&nbsp;</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">Draft contracts of employment and undertake periodic reviews, responsible for ensuring they reflect best practice and are kept legally up &nbsp;to date&nbsp;</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">Support the Group People function in drafting, developing and renewing the Group’s employment policies, ensuring they reflect best &nbsp;practice &nbsp;</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">Leading the day to day management of Employment Tribunal claims from start to finish with minimal supervision and where appropriate &nbsp;providing advocacy at preliminary Tribunal hearings. Advising on legal and commercial risks and setting the defence strategy.&nbsp;</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">Prepare and deliver presentations/ training sessions to educate and up-skill the Group People team on a variety of topics&nbsp;</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">Support the Group Senior Legal Counsel - Employment and Group General Counsel in advising on and implementing key projects with &nbsp;employment law aspects, including those which involve large scale consultations&nbsp;</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">Represent the Group companies positively in interactions with external bodies and opposing Counsel &nbsp;</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">Responsible for keeping the business up to date with legal developments and horizon scanning for changes which will impact policy and &nbsp;practice, preparing regular legal updates for circulation to relevant business areas</li></ul></div><!-- Ideal Candidate --><div><h3>The role is for you if...</h3><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">Don't worry if you don't meet all of the requirements - if you feel that you have the skills and experience for this role, then we'd really welcome your application.&nbsp;</p><ul style="margin:10px 0px 15px 20px;padding:0px 0px 0px 20px;"><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">A&nbsp;qualified solicitor (4+ years PQE)&nbsp;with strong employment law expertise.</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">A confident legal expert with excellent research, analytical, and drafting skills.</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">A natural communicator who can break down complex legal advice into clear, practical guidance.</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">Strong drafting and negtotiation skillls with a well honed ability to persuade both clients and&nbsp;opponents</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">Ability and confidence to give tailored legal advice hwich reflects sound judgement of commercial risk&nbsp;</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">Great at building relationships so that you can work as a true business partner, giving reasoned opinions on strategy and approach, not just a list of options.&nbsp;</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">A commercially minded professional who balances legal risk with business priorities.</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">A relationship builder, comfortable working with colleagues at all levels of the business.</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">A proactive, organised individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment.</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">Previous in-house experience is a plus, but not essential.</li></ul></div><!-- Package Description --><div><h3>About DFS</h3><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">We’re home to DFS, Sofology, and The Sofa Delivery Company - three distinctive brands with a shared mission to bring great design and comfort into every home, affordably, responsibly, and sustainably.</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">At DFS Group, everyone plays a part. Whether you’re supporting our brands or serving our customers, you’re helping shape the future of furniture retail. Each brand has its own identity and creative direction, but we’re united by a culture that puts people and purpose at the heart of everything we do.</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;"><br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"></p><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">Everyone Welcome</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">Across our Group, we're committed to a culture where everyone feels welcome, valued, and can thrive at work. We celebrate diverse voices, champion inclusion, and support each other through our growing colleague networks. We invest in partnerships that drive change, from supporting Doncaster Pride and introducing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, to partnering with Carers UK and developing leaders with Diversity in Retail.&nbsp;</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">We're proud to be an equal opportunities employer, committed to building a workplace that reflects the communities we serve. So, if your experience doesn't quite match the specification, we'd still really love to hear from you</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;"><br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"></p></div><!-- About the Company --><div><h3>DFS Benefits</h3><ul style="margin:10px 0px 15px 20px;padding:0px 0px 0px 20px;"><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;"><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">Car or car allowance - £6,000 per annum</p></li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;"><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">Annual bonus&nbsp;based on business performance.</p></li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;"><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">Hybrid working&nbsp;– 3 days in Doncaster, 2 days from home.</p></li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;"><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">25 days’ holiday + 8 bank holidays, with the option to buy up to 5 extra days.</p></li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;"><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">Enhanced family leave&nbsp;– including maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption leave.</p></li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;"><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">Paid volunteering day&nbsp;to support a cause you care about.</p></li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;"><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">Generous staff discounts&nbsp;– 30% off DFS and Sofology products, plus big-brand savings at ASOS, IKEA, and more.</p></li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;"><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">Wellbeing perks&nbsp;– including an Employee Assistance Programme, healthcare services, and discounted gym memberships.</p></li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;"><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">Pension &amp; savings&nbsp;– Group pension and Sharesave schemes.</p></li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;"><p style="margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;color:inherit;font-size:inherit;">Life assurance &amp; sick pay&nbsp;for added peace of mind.</p></li><li style="margin:0px 0px 5px;padding:0px;font-size:inherit;">Private medical insurance (individual cover + your family )</li></ul></div><!-- Apply Button --><a href="https://apply.dfscareers.co.uk/members/?j=2734&amp;lang=en&amp;" class="btn btn-apply apply_bottom">Apply<i class="fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a>